Remember that glorious T-top Nissan Z Kaze concept we covered a couple of days ago? Well, we have some good news: Nissan might actually build the thing.
The Kaze debuted as a one-off passion project packed with the sort of details that make longtime Z fans nostalgic. Pacific Teal paint, genuine old-school NISMO wheels, and, most importantly, removable T-top panels made it difficult not to wonder why Nissan couldn’t simply put it into production.
At the time, however, there was no indication that would happen. Nissan described the Kaze as a concept created by an internal skunkworks team, leaving us to admire it while assuming those T-tops would remain a one-off.
Now the company is sounding far less dismissive about its chances. Ponz Pandikuthira, Senior Vice President and Chief Planning Officer for Nissan North America, told The Drive that enthusiast demand could determine whether the Kaze gets the green light.
Nissan Wants To Hear From You
Pandikuthira didn’t dance around the subject, telling The Drive that if fans genuinely want the car, they should make themselves heard because Nissan could actually build it.
“It’s a concept, we’re playing with something,” he explained, adding that if public reception is strong enough, “we’re gonna make that car happen.”
That’s obviously not the same thing as an official production announcement. There are no confirmed specifications, prices, or production dates, but it’s unusually encouraging language from a senior executive discussing what could easily have stayed a show-car exercise, destined to eventually fade into obscurity.
Those T-Tops Aren’t Just For Show
Perhaps helping the Kaze’s chances is how seriously Nissan engineered its defining feature. The Drive reports that the removable roof panels use the same basic securing and release mechanism as the Z32-generation 300ZX 2+2, including locking handles and locating pins.
The center bar is significantly wider than the old 300ZX’s, likely reflecting the structural and safety demands facing a modern production car. Nissan even designed matching storage bags for the panels and made sure they fit beneath the rear hatch.
The rest of the Kaze leans heavily into 1990s tuner culture. Its twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 receives GReddy intake, intercooler, and exhaust hardware, while NISMO suspension components and restored 18-inch LMGT2 wheels complete the throwback.
Nissan’s Sports Cars Could Get Interesting Again
A production Kaze would also fit neatly with Nissan’s renewed interest in its performance heritage. Company executives have recently discussed future sports cars, including a next-generation GT-R, while Pandikuthira has previously expressed interest in seeing a Z convertible return.
None of that guarantees you’ll could be ordering a Pacific Teal T-top Z from your local dealer anytime soon. This time, though, Nissan isn’t simply asking enthusiasts to admire a cool concept and then forget about it.
Apparently, it wants to hear whether people would actually buy one. So if you’ve spent the last few days making posts saying that Nissan needs to build the Kaze, congratulations: complaining on the internet may finally serve a useful purpose.